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Korea reviews joining US-led Hormuz operation
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By
Park Ji-won
Published
May 5, 2026 4:33 pm
KST
Updated
May 5, 2026 4:47 pm
KST
Trump uses ship incident to press for Korea's participation in mission
The Iran-flagged container vessel Hamouna is anchored as a small motorboat passes by in the Strait of Hormuz off southern Iran's Bandar Abbas in this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency, Saturday. Iran's Revolutionary Guards denied, Monday, that any commercial ships had crossed the strait after the U.S. military earlier said two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels had transited through the vital waterway. AFP-Yonhap
The U.S. is increasing its pressure on Korea to participate in its operation to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, following what it claims was an Iranian attack on a Korean-operated ship.
While Korea has been committed to making “practical contributions” to ensuring maritime security in the strait, it is taking a cautious approach since joining the U.S.-led military operation could be seen as involvement in the war.
Cheong Wa Dae said it is reviewing whether to join Washington's “Project Freedom,” aimed at guiding ships safely out of the key waterway.
"The government holds the principle that safety in international maritime passage and free navigation meets all nations' common interest and should be protected according to international law," Cheong Wa Dae said in a statement.
"We are reviewing the U.S. proposal about the Strait of Hormuz based on the principle, the military readiness posture on the Korean Peninsula and domestic laws. About Project Freedom, Korea and the U.S. have been closely communicating for safe use of key waterways including the Hormuz Strait," it said.
The statement came after the HMM Namu, one of the Korean vessels stranded in the strait since the U.S.-Israel war against Iran began on Feb. 28, sustained damage from an explosion and fire at 8:40 p.m. Monday Korea time, the day the U.S. launched the project.
Following the incident, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that it was an attack by Iran and urged Korea to join its operations there.
"Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship. Perhaps it's time for South Korea to come and join the mission!" Trump wrote on social media, Monday (local time), without providing evidence that Iran attacked the Korean-operated vessel.
It was the latest call from Trump for Korea to join its mission in the strait. In March, he requested five allies, including Korea, to send military vessels to Hormuz but Korea did not respond. Instead, it has participated in multinational discussions for a coalition led by the U.K. and France aimed at reopening the strait. Last week, the U.S. proposed a new initiative called Maritime Freedom Construct, also aimed at the safe passage of ships.
Analysts say the U.S. is likely to increase its pressure on Korea to take a more "proactive approach" in joining the U.S.-led operations if the incident turns out to have been an Iranian attack.
Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, said if Iran is proven to be behind the incident, it will create a situation where Korea can no longer distance itself from the Middle East conflict.
However, he said Korea is faced with a difficult task in deciding whether to join the U.S.-led mission, as doing so could be viewed as Seoul involving itself in a “military operation,” which could prompt a reaction from Iran.
“Given that Korea is heavily dependent on the strait in oil passage, and if it is true that Iran attacked the ship, and if Korea continues refusing to join the U.S. operation, the U.S. may make Korea face consequences,” Park said.
He said sending troops will require National Assembly ratification and it will take considerable time to prepare the military. “We could buy time while negotiating with the U.S., or support the U.S. with defensive weapons rather than combat weapons, or provide logistical support,” he added.
Another analyst said the U.S. considers Korea’s potential participation as a gateway to bringing more countries into the operation.
“The U.S. appears to have found an opportunity," Nam Sung-wook, chair professor at Sookmyung University, told local broadcaster YTN. "Washington has been dissatisfied with Korea’s nonparticipation in its freedom of navigation operations despite being an ally. Now that a Korean ship has been damaged, the U.S. seems to be using the incident to argue that it is time for Seoul to join the operation, making Korea a primary target in its efforts to bring allies on board.”
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